Grad House Cafe - Halifax

Many people tend to perceive the Grad House as a bar, which it is, but it also doubles as a cafe. In my experience, I have only ever visited it as a cafe, and I must say, it's quite impressive! The staff here prepare some fantastic crepes, and the food is among the freshest on Dalhousie's campus. Whenever I have dropped by, usually towards the end of semesters or in the summer, it has been relatively peaceful. I believe the name might deter some younger students from checking it out, but they are truly missing out! The menu offers fresh dishes, scrumptious baked goods, and a wide selection of teas and coffees to cater to all tastes. The decor, however, could use some improvement - the seating arrangement is a bit odd with a haphazard mix of tables that don't seem to fit the vibe of either a bar or a restaurant. Interestingly, they frequently feature daily specials that they advertise on their Twitter page.

Based on the unimpressive name and online presence of Dalhousie's Grad House, it seems like the restaurant still has room for improvement. Despite its recent move, the interior is now modern and clean. The selection of beers on tap is good, and they have a hidden gem of Smokehead Isley Single Malt scotch. The food menu is limited, but the crepes served by two girls in berets for lunch are a unique touch. The restaurant feels small and can get crowded even when empty. With a spacious back deck and plans for more upstairs space, it has the potential to improve over time but for now, it may be best to wait for better times.

The Grad House has a modern appearance, but the food and beer are expensive and there is a lack of seating due to an awkward layout. However, on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 2 pm and 4 pm, Rickard's pitchers are on special for $15. Liquor drinks are reasonably priced at $4.50. The menu offers crepes, sandwiches, and pizza. I tried the chicken sandwich with cheese and onions and a side salad, which was served on a crunchy baguette with minimal filling. The side salad consisted of lettuce and red peppers, but only a few bites. At $9, I believe it is better to go to Subway instead. While it may not be worth going out of your way to visit, it is one of the few places to hang out on campus. Karaoke night on Fridays and trivia nights on the last Tuesday of each month can be entertaining.

I've eaten at the Grad House many times now because Aramark, the University Club and the Grawood don't serve anything edible on campus, plus they have a patio. I've eaten at the Creperie Mobile's market locations a lot and the food here met my expectations for the most part. The crêpes and sandwiches served are excellent, made with fresh ingredients, local baguette etc. A few times I've experienced long waits for my food (30 min plus) and yesterday the side salad was rotten, not an edible green on mine or my friend's plate. Lastly don't order the pizza because it's made on a frozen crust, in fact if it didn't have a fresh basil garnish you would have thought it was a really cheap frozen no-name brand.

Most people think of the Grad House as a barAnd it is! But it's also a cafe.